Car-coupling



J. L. HAMILTON. v

CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 1919.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

JESSE L. HAMILTON, 0F TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

CAR-COUPLING.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 1920.;

Application filed. October 6, 1919. Serial No. 328,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn L. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of l'ndiana have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplers, and it is especially designed to be used on coal-cars such as are used in mines, although it is notto be restricted to such use.

The primary objectof the invention is to provide a coupling which is exceedingly simple in -construction, and which may be readily and easily coupled and uncoupled, there being little or no possibility ofit separating while in use.

Another object of the invention is to pro;

vide a device of the above mentioned character which is efiective in use, strong, durable and inexpensive, and one in which the construction is such that it will not get out of order or become easily broken. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 1, partly in section showing the parts in assembled position.

Fig. 4: illustrates the relative angled position of the parts preparatory to coupling or uncoupling. V

5 is a detail perspective view of the coupling heads detached.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention the numeral 1 designates one of the coupling heads or the female member and the numeral 2 a second coupling head or the male member. Both of these members are provided with eyes 3. As is obvious, it is the purpose ofthe eyes 3 to provide a hitching-bearing or attaching means for the members 1 and 2 to a lint: or draw-bar of the coal-car or other appliance to which they are to be fastened.

The coupling head or female member 1 is provided with a downwardly and inwardly inclined end. The upper portion is more steep as shown at 1 and the'inclination of the lower part is'inore gradual as shown at 5. This head l-is further provided with a socket 6 opening through the end of peculiar design which is formed by a horizontaltop' wall 7, vertical side walls 8, an inner end wall 9 and a bottom wall 10 which is in clined downwardly from the innerend wall 9. Carried by and secured to the inner faces of the side walls 8 and top wall 7 are a pair of vertically disposed ribs 11' which are of a length equal to approximately one-half of the height of the sidewalls. The inner faces of the ribs 11 are inclined downwardly at 12 and then inwardly at 13 to form seats or hooks, the purpose of which will herein after be set forth; The inner end wall 9 is provided with a depression or recess- 14 which is adapted to receive the curved extil tremity of the extension on the'male meniher 2 as will be morefully set forth asithe' description goes on. y

The coupling head or male member2 of the coupling includes a substantially rectangular abutting surface 15 which is adapted to abut or'strike the inclined end 4 of the female member when the cars am and thus act as a bufier.

Extending forwardly and some distance beyond the abutting surface 15 is a gradually tapered extension 16, the upper face of which is curved as shown at 17 the extreme point of which forms in efiect a pivot when the two members rock with respect to each other. 7

In order to cause the male member to become engaged with the ribs 11 of the head 1, I provide a pair of oppositely disposed abutments 18 which are carried by, and secured to, the extension 16. The rear faces of the abutments are spaced from the abut ting surface 15 and the corners are slightly curved or beveled as at 19, thesarne being adapted to engage in the lower portion of the already referred to seat formed by the inner faces 12 and 13 of the ribs 11. The forward faces of the abutments are spaced from the curved extremity 17 so as to permit the curved extremity 17 of the extension to enter in the recess 14:.

cess 14. The weight of the meeting ends of the two heads is such that when the car carrying the head 1 moves forward, the heads will automatically drop into locking position as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3.

Should the cars back upon one another or jam, the members will again assume-the angled osition shown in Fig. 4, but will not uncoup e, because as soon as the cars pull away from each other, the members will again drop into locked position. It is obvlousv that the endwise pull exerted on the two heads when they are in alined position will prevent accidental separation thereof. When in alined, position the rear faces, in: cluding the lower beveled corners 19, of the abutments 18 will be tightly seated in and bear against the faces 12 and 13 of the ribs 11 and willthus beheld against separation.

To uncouple the members it is necessary only to lift. them up in the center so as to assume the angled position shown in Fig. 4. In order to insure separation it will be found necessary to lift the members 1 and 2 high enough at theirlcenter to cause the abutments 18 to become entirely unseated from the hook or seat formed by the inclined or uncoupled the extreme forward point of the extension 16 will contact with theinner end wall 9 and act as a pivot point thus permitting both of the coupling heads to readily swing up or down.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A car coupler, comprising a coupling head inclined downward and inwardly at one of its ends, and provided with a socket opening through said end, said socket including a horizontal top wall, vertical side walls, a vertical inner end wall anda bottom wall, said bottom wall being inclined downwardly from said inner end wall, vertical ribs carried by the inner faces of said side walls,

the length of said ribs being approximately of said ribs being inclined downwardly and inwardly to provide seats which are adapted to receive the rear faces of the abutments when the heads are alined substantially'as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JESSE L. HAMILTON. 

